Can't see PC on 3 PC Network

dhamments · 8th May 2003

I have a small home network of 3 PC's all running WinXP pro through a 5 port hub (D-Link DSS 5+) sharing a cable modem. All three PC's see the modem and successfully connect to the internet. 2 of 3 PC's see each other and successfully share files and a laser printer attached to one of the PC's.

Allthough the 3rd PC can see the cable modem attached to the hub, it does not see the other 2 PC's or the printer. All 3 PC's are members of a workgroup called @HOME and file and printer sharing is enabled on all 3 PC's. When I view network connections on the 3rd PC, all I see is the folders I've enable for sharing.

I need to share the laser printer from the 3rd PC. Please advise.

Thank you,
David A. Hamments

AndyO · 8th May 2003

Can you PING the IP address of one of the other PCs from the troublesome one ?

If yes then its a name resolution issue - solved either with NetBEUI for simplicity or use of HOSTS and LMHOSTS if you want it slicker

dhamments · 8th May 2003

Thanks Andy,

I installed Netbeui on all three PC's and now I can see the problem PC from one of the first two, where I couldn't before. The problem PC can also see my pc. Unfortunately, it is the middle PC that has the laser printer and the problem PC cannot see it (and vise versa). Any further thoughts?

Thanks, David

dhamments · 9th May 2003

I can ping either of the other 2 PC's from the problem PC successfully.

Newt · 9th May 2003

Have you tried adding it by name without trying to "find" it on your network?

For instance, if PC-A has a printer shared as printer-A then when you do the setup from PC-B and select to add a network printer, tell it you want to connect to and use \\PC-A\printer-A

If that doesn't work for you, then try setting the username & password from PC-B as a user in the local users & groups, users section of PC-A, add the user to an appropriate group, and try again.

If no luck with either of those, say if you are running XP-home or XP-pro.

And I'd strongly suggest a workgroup name that does not include symbols like the @ in yours.

dhamments · 9th May 2003

The user names and passwords are identical on all three PC's. I tried identifying it by name and get a message that either the name was typed incorrectly, or the printer has lost its connection to the server (PC-B). The problem PC (let's call it PC-C) now sees a printer on PC-A ( a color inkjet), but not the laser on PC-B. PC-C can also see files on a hard drive located on PC-A. It does not see PC-B at all.

dhamments · 9th May 2003

Sorry, I forgot to tell you I'm running XP-Pro on all three PC's.

Thanks

AndyO · 9th May 2003

Create a HOSTS file on the problem PC

This is a plain text file located in C:WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC

put an entry in it with <IP address of PC-B> PC-b (or whatever its really called)

Now try to PING PC-B by its name

if this is successful try the printer setup

If this is unsuccessful then post the IPCONFIG /ALL from each of the three machines

dhamments · 9th May 2003

Placed HOSTS file on all 3 PC's in appropriate directories. Can Ping PC-B from PC-A by name, but not PC-C (the problem PC). Can Ping PC-A from PC-B by name, but not PC-C.
Cannot Ping PC-A or PC-B from PC-C

Here's the ipconfig /all info from all 3 PC's

Info PC-A PC-B PC-C
Host Name: Athlon P3 Kidspc
Primary DNS Suffix:
Node Type: Unknown Unknown Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled: No No No
WINS Proxy Enabled: No No No

Ethernet Adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection Specific DNS Suffix: wite1.on.cogeco.ca for all 3 PC's
Physical Address: 00-07-95-1E-D3-52 for PC-A
00-50-BA-5B-9F-5D PC-B
00-07-95-F8-52-53 PC-C
DHCP Enabled: Yes for all 3 PC's
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes for all 3 PC's

IP Address: 24.57.119.31 for PC-A
24.57.126.180 for PC-B
24.57.76.243 for PC-C

Subnet Mask: 255.255.240.0 for PC-A and PC-B
255.255.252.0 for PC-C

Default Gateway: 24.57.112.1 for PC-A and PC-B
24.57.76.1 for PC-C

DHCP Server: 24.226.1.121 for all 3 PC's
DNS Servers 24.226.1.94 (93) and (46) for all 3 PC's

Hope this helps
David

AndyO · 9th May 2003

???????????

The Pcs are on different IP networks - as can be seen by the different subnet masks !

What is acting as the DHCP server ? (as its a private address range which is a bit odd for something inside a Cable modem)

We need to identify this as it may be easier to static address everything as there's only 3 Pcs

dhamments · 9th May 2003

I tried configuring PC-C with the same subnet mask and default gateway as the other 2 PC's with no luck (disabled autoconfigure). PC-C could still access the internet however, as well as share files and a printer with PC-A. I

I note the DHCP server is identical for all 3 pc's and I've never had a problem getting on the internet with any of the PC's.

I'm stuck, what do you suggest?

AndyO · 9th May 2003

Just changing the subnet mask will not be enough in this case as its a partial mask (i.e. not 255)

I'll have to calculate a specific one - something I'm still **** at even after 10 years in the biz and umpteen exams

Might take me a while as I'm trying to finish stuff for the weekend (5:15 PM in the UK)

Will post back later

Newt · 10th May 2003

dhamments - The Ipconfig info did help.

Your situation as of now is addresses assigned by your ISP and you have no control over which ones you get.

As AndyO noted, the addresses are on different networks so your PCs are talking to each other (when they talk) across routers operated by your ISP.

This will always be a little slow and since you are not on your own LAN (local area network) your comms between your PCs will be wide open to others who use the same ISP.

Printer issues and a few other goodies are going to continue to plague you from time to time.

My suggestion at this point will cost you a few $ (or £ or whatever your currency is) but not a lot and you can seriously simplify your life. Plus, if you are paying the ISP for rental of 3 IP addresses, you can save some monthly rental fees and pay for the device I'm recommending in a fairly short while.

1. Replace the hub with a SOHO (small office home office) router/switch. Linksys, DLink, NetGear, and others make good ones that will operate your PCs for around $50-60 US or around £50-60 UK.

2. Cut back to a single IP address from your ISP. When you connect your router/switch to the cable modem, it will get that address.

3. Your home PCs will then talk to each other via the switch portion of the router/switch. They can be automatically given IP addresses by the DHCP function of the device or you can assign them. But in any case, use private addresses like the 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x ranges.

This way your PCs will all share the same network so they will communicate with each other faster than they do now. And they will be protected from intrusion by the way the router does connections.

Internet speed for all three should be pretty much unaffected. Granted, if all three PCs do large uploads or downloads at the exact same time, it'll be a little slower but for the most part, you'll be running full speed.

And a minor correction - your D-Link DSS 5+ is a switch rather than a hub. Huge difference. It's a good one so if you want, get a single port router/switch and plug the D-Link DSS 5+ into the port via crossover cable and keep the PCs connected to your present switch. Or get the 4 port version and have room to expand if you ever want to.

dhamments · 11th May 2003

Thanks for your input Newt!

I do appreciate it. I called my cable ISP and as you suggest, there is nothing they can do to force their DHCP server to assign identical subnet masks to my 3 PC's when I go online. Is there a way I can do it manually at my end? I have a router sitting here, but my wife is an at home travel agent and logs into the SABRE airline/hotel booking network from her desktop and the SABRE security software is not compatible with the router. They have a product that is compatible, but it is very slow and crashes frequently, so my better half begged me to put her back on the D-Link switch. She's fine, but now my kid can't access the laser printer from PC-C (and so it goes on).

Any more suggestions (sorry to be such a pain!)

Thanks, David

Newt · 14th May 2003

The easiest solution I can figure at this point is as follows:

1. Keep your wife's current NIC thru the switch to the ISP.

2. Put your router/switch to the D-Link DSS 5+. Not sure about the ports but the connection will probably need a crossover cable unless you have a port that can be toggled from patch to crossover.

3. Plug the other two PCs into the switch side of the router/switch and let it handle internet traffic and LAN communications for them.

4. Put a 2nd NIC in your wife's PC. Plug it into the router/switch. DO not allow it to have a gateway address assigned. That way it won't try to reach out and touch someone on internet but should be perfectly happy to talk to the other PCs at your place.

You'll have to play with bindings a little to make sure the internal services (like printers) know which NIC to play on. But with XP PCs, it should be relatively simple.

Your total expense will be for the 2nd NIC ($10-15 or something) and maybe a crossover cable. And if you are paying the ISP a fee per IP address, you can let them have one of yours back since you'll only need 2.